BY LOUIS NOHL TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY JOHN J. LALOR. “ Man’s title to nobility is the heart. ” CHICAGO: JANSEN, McCLURG, & COMPANY. 1880. COPYRIGHT, Jansen, McClurg & Company . A. D. 1880. STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY THE CHICAGO LEGAL NEWS COMPANY....

Mr. Louis Nohl , the author of the present little volume, has merited for himself in Germany a high reputation as a writer of the biographies of musicians, and some of his larger works have appeared in English on the other side of the Atlantic. The present is the first translation into our language of his shorter Life of Mozart. It will, we trust, prove acceptable to those who desire to learn the chief events in the life of the great composer, to see how his life influenced his compositions, and

1756-1777. CHILDHOOD AND EARLY TRAVELS. Mozart’s Parentage—Early Development of his Genius—Character as a Child—Travels at the age of Six—Received by Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette—Mozart and Goethe—Meeting with Madame de Pompadour—The London Bach’s Opinion of Young Mozart—Asked to Write an Opera by Joseph II—Assailed by Envy—Padre Martini—Notes Down the Celebrated Miserere from Ear—The Pope Confers on him the Order of the Golden Spurs—A Member of the Philharmonic Society of Bologna—First Lo

1777-1779. THE GREAT PARISIAN ARTISTIC JOURNEY. Disgusted With Salzburg—In Vienna Again—Salzburg Society—Character of Musicians in the Last Century—Jerome Colloredo, Archbishop of Salzburg—Mozart’s Letter to Him—The Father’s Solicitude for His Son—Paternal Advice—New Compositions—Incidents of his Journey—Meets With Opposition—Secret Enemies—His Ambition to Elevate the Character of the German Opera—Disappointments—His Description of German “Free City” Life—Meeting With Stein—In His Uncle’s Family

1779-1781. IDOMENEO. New Disappointments—Opposition of the Abbe Vogler—Mozart and the Poet Wieland—Wieland’s Impressions of Mozart—German Opera and Joseph II.—The Weber Family—Aloysia Weber—Mozart’s Plans—His Father Opposes them and his Attachment for Aloysia—Mozart’s Music and Heart-trials—In Paris—Disappointments there—Contrast Between Parisian and German Life at this Time—New Intrigues Against Him—Invited Back to Salzburg—“Faithless” Aloysia—Meeting of Father and Son—Reception in Salzburg—“Ki

1781-1787. THE ELOPEMENT FROM THE SERAGLIO—FIGARO—DON GIOVANNI. Opinions on the Idomeneo—Tired of Salzburg—Goes to Vienna—The Archbishop Again—Mozart Treated by him with Indignity—Paternal Reproaches—Assailed by Slander—He Leaves Salzburg—Experiences in Vienna—Austrian Society—The German Stage—The Emperor Expresses a wish that Mozart might Write a New Opera—Mozart’s Love for Constance Weber—Description of Constance—Performance of the New Opera—Mozart’s Marriage—The Emperor’s Opinion of Mozart’s

1787-1791. THE MAGIC FLUTE—TITUS—THE REQUIEM. Haydn’s Opinion of Mozart—Made Court Composer by Joseph II.—Don Giovanni in Vienna—Mozart’s Extreme Poverty—His Cheerfulness under Adverse Circumstances—“The Song of the Swan”—Other Compositions—Mozart’s Opinion of Handel—He becomes Acquainted with Sebastian Bach—Mozart’s Opinion of Church Music—Traveling Again—Some of Mozart’s Characteristics—Audience with the Emperor—Petition to his Imperial Majesty—His Religious Feelings—Joins the Free Masons—Hist